Fire engine fluid pressure regulating system



Nov. 30, 1954 c. H. RIBLEY 2,695,629

FIRE ENGINE FLUID PRESSURE REGULATING SYSTEM Filed June 23, 1952 INVENTOR CHARLES H. RIBLEY ATTORNEY United States Patent FIRE ENGINE FLUID PRESSURE REGULATING SYSTEM Charles H. Ribley, Schenectady, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1952, Serial No. 295,105

1 Claim. (Cl. 137-786) This invention relates to a control especially adapted to regulate the pressure supplied by a fire engine to hose lines, but it is capable of application to pressure systems in general.

One such arrangement now in use employs merely a by-pass relief valve that opens at abnormal pressures in the discharge line to allow some of the liquid to escape into the suction side of the system. This does not save the power which the operating motor supplies to the pump and is also wasteful of the fluid pumped.

Another method of regulation does have the discharge pressure of the liquid control the usual internal combustion motor used to drive the pump by changing its carburetor adiustment to correspond to varying pump loads. But heretofore it has not been possible for such regulators to be operated at easily accessible points in proximity to the pressure gauges.

This invention has as one of its obiects a direct control of the pump driving motor automatically operating to maintain a desired pressure, and capable of being readily changed to give a different pressure for different demands.

An ther obiect is to provide a simple and rugged device for effectin the desired results.

These and other obiects are accomplished by the means shown in the attached drawing, set forth in the following descri tion, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the single figure of the drawing the device is shown largely by lon itudinal sections of the difierent parts. the connections of the one to the other being broken. This illustrates the device as controlling a carburetor valve.

A casing 1 of cylindrical form with the usual flange and bolted head at each end hasin it an expanding bellows 2 of old and well known form, containing the usual pressure transmitting fluid. An opening 3 in the right hand cover plate of the casing is in direct communication with the discharge side of the fluid pump (not shown) so that its pressure acts directly upon the bellows 2. A pipe 4 in direct communication with the left end of the bellows transmits the pressure. This pipe has a branch 5 entering the cup shaped casing 6a of an adiuster 6 containing a bellows 7 having at its left end a pressure plate 8 with a proiecting cen ral stem 9 provided at its free end with a conical recess 10.

The bott m of this recess is engaged by the corresponding conicallv shaped end of a pin 11 provided with a threaded portion engaging with a threaded lug 12 in the cover plate 6b of the casing 6 1. the pin 11 being ad ustable bv means of the handle 13. Beyond the branch 5. the pipe 4 is continued bv the portion 4a passing into the casing 14 which has the thre ded and heref re ad ustable heads 15 and 16. The upper head 15 bears directl against a pressure seat 17 for a compression spring 18. The lower head 16 carries a bellows 19 acted upon by the pressure transmitted throu h the pi e extension 1. Between the bellows 19 and spring 18 is a member 20 having one portion 21 engaging the spring 18 and another 22 engaging the bellows 19.

The two portions 21 and 22 are connected by a neck 23 having in it a slot 24. In this slot is a pivot pin 25 in one end of a lever 26, this lever having one pivot 28 connected at one end to a suspension link 29 which at 2,695,629 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 the shaft permitting this. Adjustable stops 38 limit the upward and downward movements of the lever 26. In the position of the linkage parts shown by full lines the butterfly valve of the adapter is open, while in that shown by dotted lines it is closed. Mounting brackets for casing 14 are not shown in the drawing.

The operation is as follows:

By manipulation of the screw heads 15 and 16 proper fixed adjustment is made of the spring 18 and bellows 19. When through the opening 3 pump pressure is applied to the bellows 2 this pressure is transmitted through the pipe 4. Part of this acts through the branch 5 upon the adjuster bellows 7, while part passes through the extension 4a to the valve actuating cylinder 14.

If the adjusting screw 11 is set so that the pressure plate 8 can have no movement, all the pressure is exerted upon the bellows 19 on spring 18 to move member 20 and through the connections shown operate the butterfly valve to close it. Therefore, in this case in which all the pressure in the discharge is available but little is required to close the valve and stop the driving motor of the pump. But if the screw 11 has been set to the right of the bellows 7 can collapse and permit more liquid to occupy the casing 6, and, therefore, less is transmitted through the extension 4a to act upon the bellows 19 and through the connections from it close the butterfly valve in the adapter of the carburetor. However, link 32, instead of being connected to the butterfly valve of the adapter, may be connected to the linkage between the foot throttle and the carburetor, but the adapter is simpler to install. Therefore, an increased pump pressure is permitted before the valve is closed.

Hence, the setting of the adjuster 6 determines the pressure which will be maintained. This setting by operation of the handle 13 may readily be changed to meet varying condition. This adjuster is located at a readily accessible spot and near the usual pressure gauges (not shovn), so that their readings can govern the adjustments ma e.

It is easily seen that one person can readily operate the device, and that it is of rugged construction.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

For use with a fire engines pumping system having a pressure responsive device connected by a hydraulic system to the throttle of the fire engines internal combustion motor, the improvement of a pressure regulator comprising a closed body having a portion adapted to be connected to the hydraulic system, a normally expanded bellows in said body, a pressure plate on one end of said bellows, said bellows at its other end being secured to a wall of said body, a stud mounted on said pressure plate within said bellows, a cone-shaped recess in the free end of said stud, a screw in the wall of said body axially aligned with said stud, said screw having a cone-shape and adapted to center said stud and handle on said screw external of said body whereby the volume of free space in said body external of said bellows may be increased by fluid entering said port and compressing said bellows to the extent permitted by the engagement of said stud and said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,469 Reeves Sept. 27, 1927 1,934,713 Hughes Nov. 14, 1933 2,105,127 Petroe Ian. 11, 1938 2,194,749 Gregg Mar. 26, 1940 2,260,576 Maybach Oct. 28, 1941 2,356,679 Mallory Aug. 22, 1944 2,359,231 Mallory Sept. 26, 1944 2,409,053 Mallory Oct. 8, 1946 2,441,332 Hicks May 18, 1948 

